With a new year upon us, it’s always a good idea to step back, empty our pockets, and take inventory of our everyday carry.
Hopefully, you’ve got your everyday carry to a point where it kept you prepared through the past year, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement.
Looking at what, how, and why we carry what we do and how it helps us—and more importantly, looking at the areas where it doesn’t or can’t—lets us build an even better carry.
You might need to make a few changes to do that, so we’ve made a list of everyday carry resolutions worth giving a shot in the year ahead.
Try them out, shake up your carry, and who knows—your new setup just might prepare you for an awesome new year.
This post was last updated on 12/28/2023.
1. Be More Organized
See the Best Everyday Carry Organizers
We can all strive towards keeping our essentials tidy and organized. It makes things easier to find and harder to forget and can help remind you to keep the rest of your life in order.
One of the best ways to do it is with a pocket organizer or gear sheath or find a bag with plenty of pockets—anything and everything that keeps your gear close and within arm’s reach the moment you need it.
2. Carry Less, Do More
View Hans’s minimalist everyday carry
This is a good place to start if you’re not perfectly satisfied with every item in your carry. It’s all about zeroing in on your most essential gear and letting go of excess and dead weight.
Think about the gear you use the most that you get the most value out of, then invest in upgrading those items. For example, say you spend a lot of time cutting things or writing notes at work. Considering the time and effort you’d save, upgrading to a sharper knife or a more comfortable pen would be worth it.
As for the gear you barely use, try to minimize. That could mean downsizing an item to a backup-sized version, consolidating a few tools into a small multi-tool without sacrificing functionality, or cutting it out of your everyday carry entirely.
When decluttering, donate your tools to friends and family who could use them.
3. Be Better Prepared for Emergencies
View Mike’s Altoids tin first aid kit everyday carry
Maybe your carry feels too minimal, and you want more options, just in case. Consider a first aid kit, emergency tools, or even smaller backups on you or in the places you frequent, like your car or office. Maybe the weather is unpredictable around your parts, and you would benefit from keeping a portable umbrella or packable rain shell in your everyday carry bag. A great way to ease into this is by starting small by using an Altoids tin to build out your emergency kit, as shown by Everyday Carry member Mike above.
4. Cover More Bases
View Derek’s winter everyday carry
A common phrase in everyday carry is “Have your bases covered.” Put simply, have a tool for every main task: cutting, illumination, starting a fire, etc. Plug up any holes in your carry’s capabilities and make sure it can handle all the needs of your day, whether work or play.
5. Express Yourself More
View Chris’s blue everyday carry
At a basic level, your everyday carry should meet your needs when it comes to practical usage and functionality. But your carry has the potential to be highly personalized, and it’s a great way to express yourself.
Once you’ve got your practical essentials down, don’t be afraid to experiment with personalizing it — that means accessorizing it, switching up colors/aesthetics, or throwing in some sentimental or fun items if it improves your day-to-day.
The past few years have given rise to things like tops, spinners, and fidget toys, and the market is wide open as far as making your carry unique and truly something that tells a story about you.
6. Carry Something New
Everyday carry is a highly trial-and-error process. And like most things in life, to make something better means having to leave your comfort zone. Try carrying something new in your carry that could be handy; you’ll never know unless you give it a shot.
A handkerchief, a minimalist wallet, a small flashlight, a notebook… any or all of these could be game changers, and might improve and enrich your day in ways you never thought of before.
